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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the UDF had a sparkling victory in Aruvikkara and it hinted at the UDF’s continuation of governance in Kerala. With this, the people have entrusted the government with a great responsibility.

“At a press conference here on Tuesday, the chief minister said the result was the evaluation of the government. If there were anti-government waves, Parliament election results would have been a different thing. The government will move forward, fulfilling the wishes of the people. The victory was the real respect paid to G Karthikeyan by people. The UDF fought the election unitedly. Not even at one point of time did the situation degraded to the level of ministers disapproving of the chief minister.”

“The CPM should learn lessons from this defeat. The election outcome also proves that all allegations raised by the LDF against the government were fake. If they don’t change their age-old style of functioning, they may again receive blows. They can’t fool the people of Kerala anymore,” Chandy said.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that the victory of the UDF in Aruvikkara was the one achieved through the misuse of official power and frittering away of public money. “Different kinds of undercurrents were created among the people. Sentiments were created based on caste and creed. This is a dangerous phenomenon,” he said.

“The CPM is not a party that should be written off just because it failed in an election. The party will study the poll result in detail. The increase in BJP votes shows that communal polarisation is happening in the UDF rule. This is a warning and the people of Kerala should be alert about this,” Kodiyeri added.

KOCHI: CPM Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the party accepts LDF's defeat in the Aruvikkara by-election.But he said that the campaign carried out by the UDF in Aruvikkara splashing money in a well-planned manner has given result. Th poll victory is the result of election work done by the UDF flouting rules and laws.

"Aruvikkara victory can't be seen as the sentiments of all the people of Kerala.The UDF could buy and influence certain prominent social forces in the run up to the election and it gave good result. We will look into the LDF's defeat, take necessary steps, strengthen the party and move forward," Pinarayi added.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: LDF candidate M Vijayakumar has said that the defeat faced by the LDF in Aruvikkara by-election is not a political defeat. He told the media persons on Tuesday that the party would make an in-depth study of the reason for the defeat and move in the forward direction.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has described the UDF’s Aruvikkara win as the one achieved through “splashing out crores of money they had amassed through corruption”. Along with this, they also mollified the minority community to get their votes.

At a press conference held after the declaration of Aruvikkara election result on Tuesday, Achuthanadan said the BJP was also able to appease the minority groups. “This is certainly an opportunity for the people to learn about the political scenario and handle the corrupt politicians in a deserving manner ,” he said

The development stunned both the Congress, whose K.A. Sabarinathan won the seat by 10,128 votes, and the Left. Sabarinathan got 56,448 votes with CPI-M leader M. Vijayakumar finishing second with 46,320 votes.

The 85-year-old Rajagopal polled 34,145 votes, against the around 7,000 votes the party got in the 2011 assembly elections.

The BJP is yet to open its account in the 140-member Kerala assembly."I am sad we could not finish in the second place but the writing on the wall for the Oommen Chandy government is clear that corruption will not be tolerated," said Rajagopal.

Rajagopal has contested more than half a dozen elections in Kerala. He lost the 2014 Lok Sabha election to Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor by a mere 15,000 votes.

"We are the only party to see a huge growth in our voter base in Aruvikara," Bharatiya Janata Party state president V. Muraleedharan told IANS.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy played down the performance of Rajagopal, saying the votes had been secured by him in view of his stature and not by the BJP."The CPI-M's negative campaign also helped the BJP," said Chandy.CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said there were a lot of undercurrents in the constituency on caste creed and communal lines. "This does not augur well," he said.

The BJP has been trying its best for years to make an electoral mark in Kerala, where the two main contenders for power are the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Left Democratic Front of the CPI-M.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Negating Opposition's claim of anti-government sentiments prevailing in the State, UDF made a decisive victory in Aruvikkara by-election as the counting of votes ended at around 10:30 am on Tuesday. K S Sabarinathan of the UDF won by a lead of 10128 votes. M Vijayakumar of the LDF came second and BJP's O Rajagopal reached the third place.Sabari won 56448 votes while Vijayakumar won 46320 votes and Rajagopal 34145 votes. It is for the first time in the history of Kerala politics, the BJP is garnering so much votes.

Thanking the voters, Sabarinadhan said he will "continue the work left in the constituency by his father Karthikeyan." He also expressed his gratitude to UDF government and also the people who voted for him braving rains.

He made a special mention of women voters, who outnumbered men in the constituecy, thanking them. The poll was necessitated following the death of Karthikeyan in February last.An estimated 77.35 per cent voters exercised their franchise during the election held on June 27.

Though there were 16 candidates in the fray, the main contest was between the Congress, CPI-M and BJP candidates. With this, the UDF strength in the Assembly stood at 74 as against LDF's 65 in the 140-member assembly. The lone MLA of Kerala Congress (B) K B Ganesh Kumar, who snapped ties with UDF, is keeping away from both fronts.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the main campaginger for the UDF, had time and again stated that the poll result would be a referendum on the government's performance. Congragulating the young turk, who felled poll veterans, chief minister said, "My good wishes and gratitude to all".

The poll result is considered to be litmus test for both Fronts and BJP as civic elections are due this year end and assembly polls next year.

The outcome is a big relief for the UDF government as the opposition CPI(M) led front had used every opportunity to hit the government on the Solar and Bar Bribe scams.

The Left Front had also tried to prevent Finance minister, K M Mani, facing bar bribe charges, from presenting the state budget on March 13 leading to unprecedented violence and mayhem in the house.

Reacting to the victory, KPCC President, V M Sudheeran, said the poll outcome would stregthen the UDF and the government and that the voters had rejected the opposition's false allegations.

For UDF government, that came to power with a wafer thin majority of two MLA's in 2011 riding on the slogan of development and care, the result is widely considered as a refrendum on the performance of the government.

With this result, the constituency, which has women outnumbering men, seems to have also given the thumbs up to the government's decision to close down over 700 liqour bars in the state as part of the new liqour policy.

Political observers point out that the outcome is a serious setback to LDF Opposition which had severely attacked the Chandy government on corruption allegations.

This is also a third drubbing to the Front in the bypolls since 2012, after the UDF came to power a year ago.In the earlier two bypolls held at Pirvaom and Neyatinkkara, UDF candidates had emerged victorious.The result is also seen as a huge blow to former CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, who was in-charge of the campaign at Aruvikkara, as he is tipped to be Chief Ministerial candidate, if LDF comes to power after assembly elections to be held next year.

92-year-old V S Achuthanandan, who was the star campaigner for the LDF and drew large crowds, also could not make much inroads into the UDF vote bank.

The result is also an embarassment for the CPI(M), which had put up its own candidate in the constituency after nearly two decades.

Earlier, its former front partner, RSP, had contested the seat.The increasing vote bank of BJP, is giving heart burn to the CPI(M) as the vote erosion is mainly from its kitty, the political observers said.

As far as the BJP is concerned, even though the lotus failed to bloom, Rajagopal, had managed to increase the party's voting percentage significanly giving a tough fight to CPI(M).G Karthikeyan had represented the segment during the last five times in the assembly.The result is also very crucial for Congress and especialy for Chandy.

A defeat for Congress would have strengthened the move by a section in the party for a leadership change as part of 'image built up of the government'. Another political significant factor is that the bypoll was held in the wake of changes in the partners of UDF and LDF.

The poll results also dealt a setback to former government Chief Whip and dissident Kerala Congress (M) MLA P C George, who was instrumental in putting up an Anti-Corruption Front candidate, much to the discomfort of his party and UDF.

With this win, UDF will have 74 members, and LDF 65 in the 140-member Assembly in which Ganeshkumar, lone MLA of Kerala Congress (B) keeping both the fronts at bay.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Just hours are left for the announcement of very decisive and much-awaited result of Aruvikkara by-election. The counting of votes will start Tuesday morning 8 at Swati Thirunal Sangeetha college in the CAPITAL City. First result will be out within half an hour and within the first one hour the trend of the voting that took place can be known. By 11 am, the whole nation will come to know with whom the people of Aruvilkkara is with.

Political parties and candidates are on tender hooks, unable to predict precisely the result. Though all parties hope for the best, the cross-voting would finally decide the winner.

Whoever wins, he is not expected to win with a big majority, such was the tough triangular contest that took place in Aruvikkara. The result is sure to have a great impact on the present political scene of Kerala.

The winner of Aruvikkara will take oath on the next day of the counting. All arrangements are in place for vote-counting. 77.35 percentage was the polling in Aruvikkara.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The body of the 15-year-old-boy missing from Killiyar, was recovered Monday. He has been identified as Naifi, son of Nazeer and Sheeja of Pathamkkallu. He was missing after he along with this friends went to have a bath in the river. The places near the river were flooded with water in the heavy rains that lashed the city.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition LDF Monday staged a walkout in Kerala Assembly in protest against denial of permission for adjournment motion seeking discussion over state vigilance department's decision not to prosecute FINANCE Minister K M Mani in the bar bribery scam.Replying to the notice for the motion, sought to be moved by the CPI (M)-led LDF, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said vigilance was yet to submit the probe report in court and the opposition was seeking a debate on a matter based on media reports."The government cannot carry on the investigation based on rumours and media reports," he said.Stating that the state government had never intervened at any time during the investigation, Chennithala said the probe was progressing in a free and fair manner.Justifying the vigilance's action seeking legal opinion in the bar scam from former Solicitor General L Nageswara Rao, Chennithala said earlier also the anti-corruption department has sought legal opinion in several cases.The minister also rejected opposition allegation that the vigilance chief altered the "factual report" prepared by the investigating officer and sought a new one.Seeking notice for the adjournment motion, S Sharma (CPI-M) alleged that government had interfered in the probe and the investigating officers were denied CHANCES to submit a free and fair probe report.He also said it would not be "sub-judice" to discuss the matter in the House as the charge sheet in the case was not filed in the court.Referring to media reports, he said Vigilance SP Sukesan had stated that there were more than 60 per cent evidence against Mani in the bar bribery case.

THIRUVANANTHAPURM: CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has admitted that anti-government sentiments got divided in Aruvikkara. The political mileage out of such a situation has benefitted the UDF. Kodiyeri was speaking to media persons at a press conference here.

“There prevailed anti-government sentiments in Aruvikkara. Not only the Left but other parties including the BJP were there to exploit that situation. Thus anti-UDF votes were prevented from shifting towards the LDF. In the Lok Sabha election, the BJP got only ten per cent votes. This time there votes will increase. If the BJP hadn’t had a strong candidate, the UDF would have faced a humiliating defeat. The BJP will get anti-government votes. What was seen in Aruvikkara was a never-before seen voting TREND. More strategies will have to be planned for avoiding such a situation in the FUTURE,” Balakrishnan said.

Meanwhile, the Left is optimistic about the Aruvikkara results. “We have the confidence of winning the election. Also, talks about the third front in Kerala is irrelevant,” he added.

KANNUR: A 15-year-old student died when a tree, uprooted in the rains, fell on top of a bike in Kannur. The incident happened Monday afternoon at 2.30 pm at Pamburuthy near Kattambally.The victim has been identified as Nahida, daughter of Thaha of Kolacheri. Nahida fell onto the road after the bike lost control when the tree fell on top of it.Though she was taken to the hospital her life could not be saved .

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Making a scathing attack on actor Suresh Gopi for his recent controversy linked to the NSS, G Sudhakaran MLA said on Monday that Suresh Gopi is not an artiste but a scoffer of art. He made this comment in between BUDGET discussions in the Assembly.

“Suresh Gopi has been a nonsense man since long back. Is he Mannam’s grandson to visit his Samadhi? When he was shown the door by Sukumaran Nair, he said he was heartbroken. Can a man like him - who is a communist in the morning, a congress worker in the noon and a BJP worker in the evening - have heart? Suresh Gopi is a person who will contest a seat, whoever gives it to him. Such persons are not artistes but scoffer of art.

Regarding the BUDGET, Sudhakaran said this time’s BUDGET is the one that died before it took birth. He said he was not willing to talk about the budget and what one had to evaluate is the performance of 2013-14 budget.

Sudhakaran also made sarcastic comments about actress Khushboo who had come out in the public to campaign for Congress.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

CHANGANASSERY: NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair has said that actor Suresh Gopi visiting the NSS office was like Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan visiting slain RSP leader T P Chandrasekharan’s house. He said the actor was trying to create the impression that NSS was with the BJP.“Suresh Gopi’s aim was to humiliate the NSS. The organisation doesn’t need anybody’s show. When Samastha Nair Samajam’s backing is there for Rajagopal, what is the need for NSS’ support? NSS is the result of many people’s hard labour and we shall not allow it to be made a platform for ‘politricks’”.

ERATTUPETTA: A dramatic scene was witnessed at a function attended by versatile actor Jagathy Sreekumar. Sreelakshmy, daughter of the actor undergoing treatment after an accident, surprised everybody by running to the venue where her father was attending the function. She then showered him with kisses on both his cheeks. The organisers later permitted the sobbing Sreelakshmy to be with her father for ten minutes.Jagathy attended the public venue as per the request of P C George. The function was organized at Erattupetta Aruvithura St George College Auditorium to felicitate the top scorers of SSLC, plus two and CBSE of Poonjar constituency.Sreelakshmy showered him with kisses when George was delivering a speech. Though he tried to resist it, she refused to withdraw. The organizers later allowed her to sit with her father. She was seen talking to her father and after 10 minutes, she left the venue.Meantime, she said that she did not come to meet her father. She came to the venue while going to a church. Sreelakshmy said that she ran to her father as she couldn’t control herself. Nobody stopped me, she further added.

Friday, June 26, 2015

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a shocking incident, five school children died on Friday evening after a huge tree fell on the bus in which they were travelling. An ayah of the school who had sustained severe injuries also later died in hospital.

The dead have been identified as Krishnendu (5), Johan(13), Ameen, Nisa and Gauri. The condition of one of the injured students is said to be serious.

They were students of Kothamangalam Karukodam Vidyavikas school. The incident happened at Kothamangalam Nellmattam at around 4:30 pm when the children were returning home after school hours.

There were 12 students inside the bus at the time of the mishap.

The rescue works were initally carried by locals and later fireforce personnel and police joined them.. They broke open the bus' body and took out the children, five of them dead and several others injured.

The injured have been shifted to a nearby private hospital.

The government has announced Rs 4 lakh for each student who died in the incident.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister K Babu threatened me for lodging a complaint in the bar scam case, said Biju Ramesh. Talking to the media, he said that the minister is trying to destroy him. Biju said the minister had directed excise officials to register a case against me. The excise are continuously conducting raids at my bars. Thought a raid was conducted by two teams the other day, nothing was obtained. I am scared that they will hide a bottle in my bar and take a fake case against me. So, I’ve directed my employees to be with them.They are trying to take action against my engineering college on a fake complaint. They are accusing me for encroaching puramboke land. I’ve not encroached anybody’s land. When I approached the court after a notice was issued by revenue department for demolishing a building, they withdrew the notice later. I will not change my stand even under pressure and will not withdraw from the legal fight. Minister Babu is taking revenge but Mani sir has so far not misbehaved.There was a bid to sabotage the bar case from the beginning. Investigating official S P Sukesan was under severe pressure from intelligence ADGP, he said.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

KOCHI: Stray dogs also have the right to live like human beings and their killing won’t be allowed – actress and TV anchor Ranjini Haridas made a point of this when she verbally fought with many people’s representatives and officials, who had gathered at District Panchayat Priyadarshini hall here to attend a meeting called by Ernakulam District Panchayat to discuss ways to tackle “stray dog menace”.

The meeting was convened by District Panchayat president Eldhose Kunnappilly. About hundred persons including District local self-governing body presidents, Animal Welfare department officials and animal rights activists attended the meeting.

When someone spoke favouring the killing of stray dogs, Ranjini snatched the mic from him and vehemently proved her point.“Killing dogs is illegal. Instead of conducting ABC (Animal Birth Control) programme, clamouring for killing them is not right. If stray dogs are multiplying, blame it on the inefficiency of chiefs in local self governing institutions to conduct ABD programme and clear roads of garbage,” said Ranjini, irking Panchayat presidents.

When the people’s representatives insisted that dogs sould be killed, Ranjini with the backing of other animal lovers turned against them. The war of words ensued and pachayat presidents soon left the hall in a huff.

Later, Ranjini gave a complaint to District Collector against illegal killing of stray dogs. She later told the media that she had not got any response from the collector till then.

ARUVIKKARA: Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has said Opposition leader V S Achuthnandan is a veteran Communist party leader of Kerala as well as India. He is performing his duty as a political leader during election campaigns. The allegations raised against him by UDF leaders are coming out of their desperation. He was speaking to media at a press conference here on Thursday.

In reply to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala’s sarcastic statement in Aruvikkkara that Pinarayi is not to be seen snywhere in Aruvikkara, he said, “ I understand that UDF leaders desperately want to see me. I thank them for this but I am busy with other things.”

He that the campaign that LDF votes will turn BJP votes is baseless. Such a situation doesn’t exist in Aruvikkara. The LDF is likely to get votes which it thought would never come its way.

THRISSUR: A video footage of singer Yesudas making a visit to a temple with the news that he has visited Guruvayur temple has gone viral over the past few days. The 6.33- minute video has had more than three lakh viewers and more than 12000 shares.

The video starts with Yesudas and his wife visiting certain temple and the devotional song “Sree partha sarathe pahimam…” being played in the background. His son, wife and a cheering crowd of people accompanying him can also be seen. The video ends with the veteran singer lighting the lamp and spreading out plantain leaf for a ‘sadhya’. The last voiceover in the video , however, foils the prankish aim of the brain behind the act.

When contacted Devaswom board member Advocate A Suresan told Kerala Kaumudi that “everybody knows that Yesudas has not visited Guruvayur temple. We don’t want to talk further and stoke yet another controversy”.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The culture of opposition leader V S Achuthanandan is degrading, alleged KPCC chief V M Sudheeran. His derogatory remarks against senior leader A K Antony is a reflection of it. VS should withdraw his remarks and apologize openly, Sudheeran said while addressing a press meet.The statement of VS was not up to the standard. The UDF had not given a reply considering his age. The people will give a reply for him in Aruvikkara similar to the one given for Pinarayi in Kollam. As opposition leader, his days are numbered. He himself is aware of it and I hope no other leader will have the same situation as that of VS. The CPM uses him when they want. He also moves forward aiming something, added Sudheeran.VS had the other day taken a dig at Antony calling him an arattumundan, bearing a torch for the corrupt and Sudheeran a butcher of the meat shop of the UDF Governemnt.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high level meeting convened by Government Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan has come out with the finding that the existing laws do not bar killing of dogs, if and only they turn harmful to human beings. Strangely enough, they have even made the observation that safety from dog menace is only possible through annihilating dogs that are violent or rabid.

The chief whip said that the local bodies were reluctant to kill dogs as they were of the impression that past Supreme Court orders prevented killing of dogs.

Law Secretary B G Hareendranath, on the basis of a High Court order, pointed out that there was no legal restrictions in killing harmful dogs.

He also brought to the notice of the participants of the meeting the 2006 order pronounced by Kerala High Court Division bench comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice J B Koshy that animals including dogs can be killed for human safety.

Hareendranath said the Supreme Court order against killing of dogs in Goa was not applicable to Kerala. Even then it was suggested in the meeting that Kerala be a party in the case in this regard. Then the State would be able to convince the apex court that Animal Act would not come in the way of exterminating dogs that turn harmful to human beings. Article 21 of Indian Constitution that guarantees right to live will also permit this 'killing act'.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

IDUKKI: A KSRTC bus overturned near here on Wednesday and had a steep fall, injuring 15 passengers including women and children. The injured have been admitted to Peerumedu government hospital. However, the injuries are not serious.

The accident happened at 55 mile at around 1:45 in the noon. The bus was going towards Kottayam from Kumili and the mishap occurred when it was giving side to another KSRTC bus from Kottayam coming from the opposite direction.

The edge of the road had cave in, overturning the bus into a depth of 150 feet. Meanwhile, the passengers said the accident occurred after the backside of the other bus banged against the bus they were travelling in . There were about 40 passengers in the bus.

VELLARADA: A first year MBBS student of Karakkonam Medical College collapsed and died in her hostel room on Monday. She was Meenakshi (20), the daughter of Technopark employee Madhavan and KSEB Executive engineer Bindu, residents of Kowdiar Muttada Lakshmi Nagar house number 23.

Though she was soon shifted to medical college casualty department by her classmates and hostel staff, she was declared brought dead.

She had been at home for study leave for the past three weeks. It was only on Monday morning around 7 that her parents took her to the hostel as the model exam started during the day.

Her parents later received her body after autospy was condcuted on it.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shivarajan Commission has detected something fraudulent about solar case.The Commssion was surprised to see the jail register submitted to it by Attakkulangara women's jail superintendent Nazeera Beevi had corrected and tampered contents inside. Some of the names of the visitors of solar scam accused Saritha S Nair are not entered, some people's names are struck with whitener and some pages are even torn out.Commission Chairman Justice Sivarajan orally pointed out the seriousness of the anomalies in the entries in the register. Though she didn’t give proper answer to the Commission's questions, she said the register was re-stitched and rebounded.The commission also found out that Saritha S Nair was allowed to have visitors also at times other than the permitted timings.The page next to the page with details of the visitor she had before her controversial changing of statements had been torn off.Nazeera Beevi also gave the statement that Saritha's cousin Adarsh visited her without furnishing the required documents.Saritha had been in the jail from July 27, 2013 to February 21, 2014.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government on Wednesday gave its go ahead to the Kerala Tourism to launch seaplane services to boost tourism."It has been decided to go ahead with seaplane operations which will boost tourism activities in the state," Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday."Authorities have been asked to go ahead and begin talks with seaplane operators to begin operations," he added.In June 2013, seaplane operations were inaugurated but it were kept on hold following strong protests from the fishing community as they feared that their livelihood will be affected."Yes, there were issues. At certain places we have been able to convince those who had fears and while at some other places our talks are continuing. Hence, we have decided to begin operations where there will be no resistance," said Chandy.The places, the tourism department identified for seaplane services, include Kollam, Alapuzha, Bekal (Kasargode) Bolgatty (in Kochi) Wayanad and Munnar.Generally seaplane services are operated by aircraft that can take six to eight passengers and these aircraft can fly around 6,500 feet above ground which is expected to provide a breathtaking view of the greenery which Kerala is known for.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has given a tit-for-tat reply to KPCC president VM Sudheeran’s comparison of him to sacrificial goat by comparing him to a butcher and the UDF government to a meat shop.“Oommen Chandy-led government, which is neck-deep in corruption can only be compared to a meat shop. Sudheeran is a butcher in that shop, he said.

He also didn’t spare Congress leader A K Anotny and said that he also had degraded himself to a “clown who lights lamp for corruption”.

“When we examine corruption, immoral activities, looting and price raise perpetrated by the Chandy government, we can compare the UDF government only to a meat shop. Here Chandy and his ministers are butchering Kerala’s people. Sudheeran sounds like a butcher and there is no point in criticising me without understanding his own faults,” he said.

“A K Antony who criticised me as a person who is not sincere in the fight against corruption is mocking at Kerala’s contemporary politics. The people of Kerala know my battle against issues beginning from Palmolein scam to Bar bribery scam. Antony, who is a self-proclaimed apostle of ideological politics, has degraded to the level of a clown who lights the lamp in front of the procession of corruption. Chandy’s filthy rule has converted the government into an Augean stable. The LDF’s mission in Aruvikkara now is to clean this shed and bring relief to the people,” he said.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

KANNUR: Two persons of a family were killed and another seriously injured when a car in which they were travelling collided with a lorry when they were returning from Guruvayoor temple to Thalassery town early Tuesday. The dead have been identified as Sindhu (45), wife of Ratnakumar of Kannur and her son Vishnu (24).The accident happened early morning at 2 am at the Venus Corner. Driver Babu has been admitted at the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital with serious injuries.The bodies of Sindhu and Vishnu have been shifted to Thalassery Medical College Hospital. Sindhu was the daughter of late Shankaran Nair and late Karthiyani.Shankar, a plus two student is Sindhu’s youngest son. Ratnakumar is working abroad.

THRISSUR: An eight-year-old-boy has been hospitalized after he was brutally assaulted by the warden of an orphanage in Thrissur. The boy sustained serious head injuries. Some burn marks were seen all over his body. A complaint has been lodged against the orphanage named Mariya Palana Sadanam in Koratty.The boy’s siblings told police that warden Justin always attacks other boys of the orphanage. Following the incident, the boy’s siblings have been taken over by the childline.

KOZHIKODE: The police Monday arrested Aji Kumar, fire and safety supervisor, in connection with the firing at the Karipur Airport. The Kondotty police arrested him from the hospital in Kozhikode where he was undergoing treatment. He is the first fire force official arrested in connection with the incident.A decision has been taken to shift Sunny Joseph, senior superintendent of fire force, injured during the clash, to Kozhikode medical college hospital for better treatment.The incident happened last Wednesday. The clash started when the CISF tried to check him when he tried to enter the airport.In the meanwhile, the Manjeri Court remanded four CISF jawans arrested in connection with the incident for 14 days.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Speculations are rife that P C George will resign his MLA post after the Kerala Congress Mani Group started taking steps to disqualify him for his anti-party activities. It is rumoured that he will resign after the Aruvikkara polls. Mani Group has entrusted a three-member panel to prepare a report after examining his anti-party activities and breach of discipline.After the Aruvikkara bypolls, the party’s executive panel will convene a meet on June 30. After holding discussions on it, the Mani Group will give a letter to the speaker seeking his disqualification. The decision of the speaker on it will be crucial. George is considering to resign if things do not favour him.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Boys cornered the top ten ranks in engineering entrance examinations, results of which were announced Tuesday.Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb while publishing the rank list said 75,258 students are eligible to appear for the course.B Arjun of Kowdiar (Thiruvananthapuram), Ameer Hassan (Kozhikode), Sreerag (Kozhikode), Nithin G K of Kazhakoottam (Thiruvananthapuram) and Sreehari (Kannur) won the first five ranks.Sharat of Alappuzha obtained the first rank in the Scheduled Caste category and Avinash of Kasargod bagged the first rank in Scheduled Tribes category.Liz Theres of Malappuram got the first rank in the architecture category. Abhishek M R of Ernakulam and Devraj of Kasargod got second and third ranks respectively.Students can give online options on the website of the entrance exam commissioner from this evening to June 23. The first allotment will be published on June 25. The rank list has been published in the website www.cee.kerala.gov.in.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DGP T P Senkumar directed not to break traffic rules for top police officials. DGP’s new direction came at a time when police officials vehicle jump even when the red signal is on. The circular released by Senkumar has asked the officials to break traffic rules only if it is emergency.The passing of the vehicles of police officials even when the red signal is on can lead to accidents at times. Traffic cops usually make way for the officials’ vehicles to pass by. However, when a situation arises for VIP’s to violate signal, then it should be informed at the police control room. The circular says that if the officials’ vehicles have to pass during emergency, then the pilot vehicle should honk or give siren.

SABARIMALA: A 32-year-old Ayyappa devotee, who came under a tree that got uprooted because of rain and wind, died Wednesday morning. Another devotee sustained serious injuries. The dead has been identified as Reghuveera Reddy of Telangana. The injured has been identified as Beemayya (42).The incident happened at 3 am early this morning on the Chandranandan Road when the two among the five-member team were getting down after darshan. Reghuveera Reddydied on the spot itself.

NEW DELHI: The union aviation ministry Wednesday recommended the home department to exempt CISF from examining the passengers at the airport. The report of aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa after investigating the Karipur fifing which claimed the life of a CISF jawan, has requested to appoint a special force to examine passengers.The CISF coming under the union home ministry is in charge of the security at the airports. However, many complaints have been voiced against the CISF. In order to avoid this, the CISF units should come under the aviation ministry.The report of Kerala in connection with the incident has been rejected by the aviation ministry. It is not correct to blame the fire force officials for the issue. The report has stated that the CCTV clippings show fire force official Sunny Thomas cooperating with the CISF. The report blames the CISF for the damage of the property in the airport. The problems started after the first complaint against CISF circle inspector Sitaram Choudhary was neglected. The report has recommended to see that the ego problems between the CISF and the fire force should not propagate further. The report has stated that such incidents should not happen again and preventive measures should be taken for that. A meet should be convened every month by the airport director on the security of the airport. The CCTV should be examined regularly. Due respect should be given to passengers while they are examined.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that payments due to farmers in connection with paddy procurement will be paid before June 20.

The chief minister informed this during his discussion with Kuttanad development committee.

Kutanad Development Committee Executive Director Fr Thomas Peeliyanickal said that farmers withdrew their strike following the chief minister’s assurance. The government owes Rs 353 crore to farmers towards the paddy procured during April-May months. The dues to be paid to Alappuzha farmers itself is Rs 147 crore. Out of that Rs 11crore will have to be distributed among Kuttanad farmers owning significant paddy fields.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan attacked the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues for corruption. The state is ruled by the corrupt. He said this is the worst ever government the state has seen as it is neck-deep in corruption.He said this while inaugurating the strike staged by coordination of pensioners organizations’ state leaders in front of the secretariat pressing for demands like the distribution of pension arrears of KSRTC and taking over the pension distribution.He termed as ‘cruel’ denying pension to those who had served for the KSRTC. The welfare pensions given to coir employees and widows are also pending. No developmental work is on as there are dues to be given for contractors. Fund has not been allocated to local self-governing bodies. Prices of essential items are spiraling. There is corruption in supplyco and neethi stores.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Lokayukta division bench has ordered ADGP B Sandhya to conduct primary inquiry into the allegations that there were corruption and irregularities behind the delay in printing school textbooks.

Justices Pius C Kuriakose and K P Balachandran have asked for the inquiry report within one month.

The petition in this case was filed by Payichara Navaz, alleging that the government had given the work order to an external party after deliberately delaying the decision to give the work order to KBPS, which was formed to carry out the printing job.

The petition also alleged that there was irregularity in the manner in which the Education department rejected the offer made by Consumerfed to print the texts at the same rate agreed upon by the KBPS.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has announced Rs Three lakh compensation for the family of two visually challenged persons Rajesh and Vinod, who were run over by a KSRTC bus recently.

Rajesh’s wife Sreeja will be given a government job according to her educational qualification. Vinod is not married. Satheesh who had sustained injuries in the accident will get financial aid from the KSRTC.

“A meeting of Home department, transport, public works and social welfare department will be held to discuss matters regarding providing transport facilities for the visually challenged. Transport minister’s report in this regard will also be considered,” the chief minister said.

KURAVILANGADU: A massive robbery came to light in the age- old Kalikkavu Devi temple near here on Thursday. The robbers who broke open the main door of the Srekovil destroyed four hundis and oil counters and stole cash from them. The examination is going on to find out whether more valuable things are missing from the temple.

The robbery is presumed to have happened Wednesday late night. It was the temple priest who first noticed the broken hundis, when he opened the Sreekovil of the temple for Palliyunarthal. The axe used to broke open the hundis was recovered from a nearby spot.

Police assumption is that a professional team of robbers was behind the robbery.

The temple which stands along Ettumanoor-Kuravilangadu route near MC road comes under Devaswom board.

The gravity of the theft is yet to be ascertained. However, the box containing temple ornaments didn’t come to the notice of the robbers. Four hundis kept in the store room were taken out and hacked open.

An expert team under Kuravilangadu SI Mohan Das is conducting the search for more clues about the robbers.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The first verdict in the sensational solar fraud case was pronounced Thursday. The court who found Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha S Nair, the first and second accused, guilty, sentenced them to three years. A fine of Rs 45 lakhs has been imposed on Saritha and 75 lakhs on Radhakrishnan.

The Pathanamthitta Judicial First Class Magistrate Court (I) pronounced the verdict. The verdict was on the complaint that the two snatched an amount of Rs 1.19 crore from one Baburaj, native of Aranmula, as share of the solar company.

The Pathanamthitta Judicial First Class Magistrate R Jayakrishnan said there are proofs against them for cheating, forgery etc. A case has been registered against them under 406, 409 and 420 sections. The prosecution was not able to prove that a conspiracy has been hatched in the case. The court has granted bail to Saritha. Fenny Balakrishnan, advocate of Saritha, said they would move the court against the verdict.

“ADGP should not assume judiciary’s role. Sheikh Darvesh Sahib has been trying to torpedo the case,” he alleged.“It is the court which has to say whether the charge sheet in bar bribery case will stand before the court of law. The ADGP’s rejection of the report without filing a charge sheet in the court is a breach of law. The ADGP’s attempt has been to mollify Mani to get Kerala Congress’ support during Aruvikkara by-election,” he said.

KOCHI: Those who have complaints against Vigilance report over Finance minister K M Mani in connection with bar bribery case, they can move court, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said.

He said the Vigilance had conducted the inquiry in an impartial and right manner. The minister was responding to the Vigilance report that there was no need to file charge sheet against Mani.

“Vigilance report is subject to court procedures. Anyone can question the report in the court. Complaints were not raised against the investigation at any stage of it,” said Chennithala, who added that he was unaware of the actual contents of the report .

KOTTAYAM: Move is on in Kerala Congress to expel renegade former chief whip P C George from the party after disqualifying him.

Kerala Congress stand is that George is indulging in anti-party activities and it will come under the purview of anti-defection law. The plan is to give a complaint to the Speaker in this regard.

A final decision will be taken at the Kerala Congress Committee meeting to be held on Sunday.

Kerala Congress disapproves of George’s decision to field a candidate under Anti-corruption democratic front led by him when UDF has its own candidate in Aruvikkara. This is viewed by the party as a serious breach of party discipline.

“The current situation is similar to the one that existed in 1989 when R Balakrishna Pillai was disqualified,” Kerala Congress leader Antony Raju said. Pillai was disqualified for supporting the candidate who contested against P J Joseph in Moovattupuzha even when Pillai was part of the Joseph group. Pillai was disqualified by the then Speaker Varkala Rashakrishnan as requested by the Joseph group.

The same step may be taken in George’s case.

Meanwhile, P C George asserted that he could be removed from the party only if he breached party whip. He said the rule at the time of Pilla’s ouster had changed.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K M Mani has said the law will take its own course and he would not interfere in the bar bribery case.

When the media drew his attention to the fact that the case would not stand in the court, Mani said he was not willing to discuss the matter. He however skirted other questions. He also didn’t answer questions on ousting PC George from Kerala Congress.

KOZHIKODE: The initial inference is that CISF CI Seetharam Chaudhury’s hand got injured in the shooting that took place at Karipur airport on Wednesday night.

The finding is that the bullet from CI Seetharam Chaudhary’s gun pierced through his left hand and then through the late jawan S S Yadav’a jaw bone before piercing into his skull.

Chaudhary is under treatment in hospital with severe injuries. It has been confirmed that he has bullet injury in his left hand. Meanwhile, it is concluded that Chaudhary didn’t deliberately opened fire and he accidently pulled the trigger when he took out his gun for self defence in the melee.

Meanwhile, fire force official Ajithkumar told the media that attack launched against him was the result of the rivalry between CISF and the fire force. “The CISF officials used to smuggle out many things from the airport and they attacked me as I complained against this,” he said.

The statements of fire force personnel who have been hospitalised will be recorded and the decision to arrest them will be taken after doctor’s report is obtained.

KOZHIKODE: The doctors who conducted post-mortem on CISF jawan S S Yadav, who was killed at Karipur airport on Wednesday night, have said the jawan died after gunshot pierced into his skull. The bullet was recovered from the skull during the autopsy that was conducted today.

The bullet which first hit the jaw bone pierced through it and entered the skull. Before the post-mortem, X-ray was taken and the bullet was spotted inside the skull.

The doctors said that the dent caused to the skull by the bullet had resulted in his death.Yadav’s body was flown to Delhi from Nedumbassery and from there it will be taken to his homeland.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

“Now, a new door has opened to implement the project. But the chief minister and the cabinet should ensure the transparency of the project,” the action hero was speaking at a meet-the-press programme at the Thiruvananthapuram press club on Saturday.

Suresh Gopi said he would campaign for the BJP in Aruvikkara if the central leadership of the party asked for the same.

KOCHI: Former land revenue commissioner T O Sooraj said on Saturday that he was ready for lie-detector test in connection with the Kalamassery land deal case. The truth would come out through the test.

When the case will be considered on Monday, Sooraj will inform the court about his willingness to undergo the polygraph test. Earlier he had expressed his dissent to undergo the test at Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.

The CBI’s demand was to subject Sooraj and Kanayannoor Taluk Deputy Tahasildhar Krishnakumar for scientific tests.In connection with the land grab case, the CBI had questioned Sooraj in Kochi on Friday.

The CBI had held that Sooraj had perpetrated the fraud by cancelling the Thanthperu (legal documents regarding ownership of a land) of 25-crore worth 1.16 acre land at Thrikkakara Pathadipalam. It also said that Sooraj had misused his office since legally, Civil Court had the authority to decide on the ownership of a land.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram CBI court has remanded chief minister’s former gunman Salim Raj and six others in CBI custody till June 18 in connection with the Pattoor land grab case. Following the expiry of the first remand, the accused were presented in the court on Saturday. The court will consider the bail petition of the accused on Monday.

The court has also ordered medical help for first accused C K Jayaram, second accused and Salim’s brother-in- law C H Abdul Majeed, relative S M Saleem and tenth accused A M Abdul Asharaff.

ARUVIKKARA: AICC working committee member A K Antony has said in the case development, the government which would get A+ is Kerala’s UDF government. “Chandy’s is a government with human face,” he was speaking after inaugurating the UDF election convention held in connection with Aruvikkara by-election.

“In the matter of development, other state governments have not been able to compete with Chandy government. His is a government for the poor and the youth. The government has implemented several people-friendly projects,” he said.

“Severely criticising the Left, Antony said CPM is averse to development. In the new age, the CPM has lost its importance. The party is 25 years back even now and they move about without realising that Kerala has changed. The State doesn’t need politics of protest or violence. The government’s policy is Kerala’s progress,” Antony explained. Antony also didn’t spare the BJP government under Narendra Modi. “The Modi government which ruled the country for the last year has put the people into inconvenience. When the crude oil price decreased in the international market, Modi harassed people by increasing the price of the diesel and petrol. Modi’s rule has only benefitted business tycoons. The Central government’s wrong policies have resulted in the price rice,” the former minister alleged.

Antony, in his address, also did a bit of campaigning for Aruvikkara UDF candidate by asking the public to vote for Sabarinathan, remembering the smiling face of his father G Karthikeyan, when they would go to polling booths on June 27.

NEW DELHI: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has alleged that Vigilance advisor V V Augustine who had advised the Vigilance against Finance Minister in the bar bribery case is also an advisor of Quotation teams. “Agusitne who gave advices to bail out Mani has turned Quotation team’s man. I will fight this out legally,” said Achuthanandan.

CPM Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that the Vigilance seeking legal advisors’ help in the Vigilance case was a challenge to the legal system. It is the investigation officer who has the right to file charge sheet and it is the court’s job to check the legal validity of the report. DGP Jacob Thomas’ revelation that the government interfered in the probe is also a serious issue.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance team inquiring into the bar bribery case on Saturday recorded the statement of Excise Minister K Babu. The statements were recorded by a team under Ernakulam unit DySP M N Ramesh at Babu’s Thrippunnithura house on Thursday noon.

Meanwhile, the minister dismissed the allegations and said Bar Association Working President Biju Ramesh was making allegations against him due to personal animosity.

Biju had given his secret statement to the magistrate that Babu had paid a bribe of Rs 10 crore for not increasing the licence fee of bar owners. Following this, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had ordered quick verification against Babu.

Biju had given the statement that in the pre-budget meeting, Babu talked about raising the Bar licence fee to Rs 30 lakh from Rs 22 lakh.

Though Bar Association representatives had asked the minister not to hike the fee, the minister didn’t give in to their demand. Later, Babu allegedly held discussion with Bar owners in the absence of officials and demanded a bribe of Rs 10 crore.

Friday, June 5, 2015

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lokayukta has asked the amicus curiae to clarify its stand, before July 10, on making Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan defendants in the Pattoor land grab case.

When the case was considered on Friday, Amicus curiae asked Advocate K B Pradeep for more time.

The Court has also asked about sending notices to the ministers once they are made the defendants. It also questioned about the media report that certain Aruvikkara by-election candidates owned flats in Pattoor.

In the case three defendants including Land Revenue Commissioner filed affidavits. The court will also examine four reports including that of former DGP Jacob Thomas while considering the case next.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If the bar bribe case against Finance Minister K M Mani is toppled, then will approach the Kerala High Court, said Biju Ramesh, the complainant and bar association working president. Other things will be decided after knowing vigilance’ stand, he said.It is heard that the advocate general will give legal advice that a case need not be registered even after getting solid evidence against Mani and this is a part of a move to subvert the case, he said.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Salim Raj, former gunman of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy misused power in the Kadakampally land fraud case, said the CBI. They said they have obtained detailed evidence on it.

The plot on it was hatched with other accused including relatives at government guesthouses. Cash was offered to the arrested officials in order to make changes in the documents.

The sale agreement was made after including the name of Salim Raj. His name is included in six deals. The custody report submitted in the court by the CBI has carried the details of it. The role of T O Sooraj, who was the public works department secretary when the case was on, will be probed.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state is getting heavy sporadic rains but the monsoon is still about 48 hours away, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.Thiruvananthapuram received heavy thundershowers accompanied by lightning on Wednesday night. Many other parts of Kerala also got heavy rains.The sun shone brightly on Thursday morning.IMD director K Santhosh told IANS that though rains were lashing Kerala, it was not time to declare the onset of monsoon."Rainfall activity over Kerala has increased. Wind flow over the southeast Arabian sea is also becoming favourable," he said."The conditions continue to be favourable for the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala during the next 48 hours," he said.

KOZHIKODE/KOLLAM: A clash broke out at the march staged by the SFI to Deputy Director for Education (DDE) offices in Kozhikode and Kollam in protest against the delay in distributing textbooks.A minor scuffle broke out when the march was stopped in Kozhikode by using barricades.Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob in Kollam.Many activists and police sustained injuries in the scuffle.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Anti-Corruption Front led by former chief whip P C George MLA has announced their candidate for the Aruvikkara bypolls. K Das, former headmaster of Chala Vocational higher Secondary will be the candidate. He has not contested any polls earlier. He was chosen as the candidate on the people’s referendum held in various panchayats of Aruvikkara.Das said, “I am elated for having chosen me as the candidate of the front who is fighting against corruption. I hope the people of Aruvikkara will vote against corruption.”The names of six persons were included in the list. The names of three including Das shortlisted at the meet convened on May 30 in Ernakulam. P C George will officially announce his name tomorrow.The Anti-Corruption Front consists of parties like Kerala Congress Secular, SDPI, and the DHRM.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI Wednesday arrested ten persons including Salim Raj, former gunman of the chief minister and 21st accused in the Kadakampally and Kalamassery land fraud cases.Apart from Salim Raj, the others arrested by the CBI’s Thiruvananthapuram unit are additional tahsildar Vidyodaya Kumar, revenue official Jayaram, Salim Raj’s relatives Nazar, Abdul Majeed, Muhammed Ashraf and S M Salim.Those arrested in the Kalamassery land fraud case in Kochi are Thrikkakkara village officer Sabu, village assistant Murad, and Geevarghese, a clerk of the collectorate.The CBI recorded the arrest of Salim Raj and Vidyodaya Kumar by 2 pm after summoning them for interrogation. Conspiracy and destruction of evidence are the charges slapped on Salim Raj and Kumar.The Kadakampally case is that he tried to grab 44.5 acres of prime land in Kadakampally village in the capital city from its legitimate owners by quoting non-existent court decrees, falsifying revenue records, and creating fake sales and partition deeds, transfers of registry documents and thandaper accounts.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

ALAPPUZHA: The crime branch said a case cannot be registered against the senior students in connection with the suicide of a junior at SAI centre in Alappuzha. Initial investigating report of the crime branch said there is no proof for ragging. A plus two student of Aryad Govt Higher Secondary School identified as Aparna and her three friends tried to commit suicide by consuming a poisonous fruit in May. Aparna died later.The crime branch’s report said the statements of the suicide bid survivors before the police and the magistrate are contradictory. They told the magistrate that they consumed beer but hid it before the police. Senior students questioned them for having beer. A case cannot be registered as it cannot be considered as abetment of suicide.Meantime, Aparna’s mother Geetha told police that her daughter took the extreme step because of ragging. They also sought a CBI probe on the incident. The case is being investigated by Alappuzha crime detachment DySP Parthasarathy Pillai under the supervision of Ernakulam range IG K Padma Kumar.

KOLLAM: In a major fire that broke out near Shakthikulangara, fishing nets, gas cylinders and other paraphernalia worth lakhs of rupees were gutted. The fire stated at the concrete building near Aravila St George church at around 12 in the night.

The materials that got damaged were stored in six rooms in the house. Fishing nets stored in five rooms were completely destroyed in the fire. The nets and other things were stored in the rooms on Sunday following trawling ban.

KOLLAM: In a major fire that broke out near Shakthikulangara, fishing nets, gas cylinders and other paraphernalia worth lakhs of rupees were gutted. The fire stated at the concrete building near Aravila St George church at around 12 in the night.

The materials that got damaged were stored in six rooms in the house. Fishing nets stored in five rooms were completely destroyed in the fire. The nets and other things were stored in the rooms on Sunday following trawling ban.

KOLLAM: In a major fire that broke out near Shakthikulangara, fishing nets, gas cylinders and other paraphernalia worth lakhs of rupees were gutted. The fire stated at the concrete building near Aravila St George church at around 12 in the night.

The materials that got damaged were stored in six rooms in the house. Fishing nets stored in five rooms were completely destroyed in the fire. The nets and other things were stored in the rooms on Sunday following trawling ban.

KOCHI: There is a Kuwait-based Malayali NRI with dual citizenship, who played the pivotal role in the nursing recruitment scam in Kerala, according to reliable sources. He is said to have taken the whole contract for nursing recruitment from Kuwait Health ministry and awarded it to subcontractors after taking hefty sums as commission.

The CBI stand is that it need not drag the NRI, who has a strong influence on Kuwait administrators and bigwigs, into the case. Earlier, it was reported that a Malayali NRI was doing all help to Uthup Varghese and that NRI turns out to be this same person.

The NRI who settled in Kuwait years ago has the citizenship of that country and also a good influence on the Kuwait health ministry. At present only his company has permission for carrying out nursing recruitments in Kuwait and it is he who has given subcontracts to companies such as Al Zarafa, Mathew International, J K International and Pan Asia at a commission of crores of rupees. In order to make up for this cost, subcontractors or agencies charge Rs 19-25 lakh from each candidate, amounting to a scam of over Rs 400 crore. His agency is also making recruitments in Kerala under another name.

Meanwhile, Uthup Varghese who was in Kuwait has reportedly fled to Abudabhi. Certain Malayali candidates have secretly informed that Varghese had been hanging around at the Kuwait health ministry office till the last week.

KOZHIKODE: Private buses will go on a token strike on June 11 and Private bus coordination committee has also decided to hold an indefinite strike from July 1. The move comes as a mark of protest against the government’s decision to grant permits to KSRTC buses in 31 routes where private buses are operating services.

It was in 2009 that the government had decided to allow permits solely to KSRTC in 31 routes including Kottayam, Thekkady and Ernakulam. Though private bus owners had approached the high court questioning this decision, the court then upheld the government’s order.

KOZHIKODE: Private buses will go on a token strike on June 11 and Private bus coordination committee has also decided to hold an indefinite strike from July 1. The move comes as a mark of protest against the government’s decision to grant permits to KSRTC buses in 31 routes where private buses are operating services.

It was in 2009 that the government had decided to allow permits solely to KSRTC in 31 routes including Kottayam, Thekkady and Ernakulam. Though private bus owners had approached the high court questioning this decision, the court then upheld the government’s order.

KOZHIKODE: Private buses will go on a token strike on June 11 and Private bus coordination committee has also decided to hold an indefinite strike from July 1. The move comes as a mark of protest against the government’s decision to grant permits to KSRTC buses in 31 routes where private buses are operating services.

It was in 2009 that the government had decided to allow permits solely to KSRTC in 31 routes including Kottayam, Thekkady and Ernakulam. Though private bus owners had approached the high court questioning this decision, the court then upheld the government’s order.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Poonthura Siraj will contest the Aruvikkara Assembly seat as PDP candidate.He said at a press conference here that that the representatives’ conference held at Thrissur Town Hall on May 27 had selected him as the candidate.“Though PDP had cooperated with the UDF as well as the LDF on several occasions before, both are treating the party now as an untouchable in the name of certain due to some other agendas.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI Tuesday questioned CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan in connection with the BJI activist Kathiroor Manoj murder case. He was questioned at the CBI headquarters in the capital city for four hours.The allegation against Jayarajan is that he arranged a hideout for the accused in the case. He reached the CBI office along with advocate K Viswanath.Talking to reporters after interrogation, he said that he has informed the CBI his stand in the case. I have given apt replies to all their questions. Manoj was murdered on September 1 in 2014. A charge sheet was filed in the court on March 7 in 2015 naming 19 persons as accused. They were accused after questioning around 350 witnesses more than once by the special police team and the CBI.

PUNE: The Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Tuesday arrested Malayalam actress Leena Maria Paul and her partner Shekar Chandrasekhar in an investment fraud case. They have been sent to police custody till June 4. The duo had started an investment firm promising 10 times return of the invested amount in a short span of time. The arrest was made after several complaints were made to the Mumbai Crime Branch by those who were cheated by the duo.She has acted in Madras Café, Red chillies, Husbands in Goa, Cobra and many other films. The Chennai police had earlier arrested the actress and her partner for duping Canara Bank, Chennai of 19 crore.In a raid conducted, luxury cars and watches were seized from them.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Supplyco has stopped the sale of Maggi noodles in Kerala following the reports that its ingredients contain dangerous levels of Mono Sodium Glutamate. The decision to stop the sales also follows the instruction given by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob.

The sales of noodles have been withdrawn from around 1500 Supplyco outlets in the State. Maggie manufacturers Nestle has also been asked to take back the leftover Maggie packets in the Supplyco outlets.

In Kerala, there have been no reports of Maggie eaters falling sick. Nevertheless, the State Food Ministry’s decision to ban the sale is said to be a precautionary measure.

It was in the Maggie sold in Uttar Pradesh, Sodium Glutamate level was seen at an alarming level. The Muzaffar Nagar court ordered legal action against Bollywood stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta who had acted in ads endorsing the food item.

Meanwhile, Nestle in its new statement has said that Sodium Glutamate particles were added in the ingredients at permitted level. The company said that 600 Maggie packets were tested in foreign labs and none of the tests could found non-permissible levels of glutamate in the packets. The company added that the results of the tests conducted on June 1 have been sent to the persons concerned.

Following complaints on Maggie, its sales dropped to 40 per cent in Bangalore, 30 per cent in Kolkata and 51 pc in Ahmedabad.